Forgiveness-

 Forgiveness is one of the hardest concepts for a Christian to get his mind around and accept. I know for me in my own life it has always been the highest hurdle. I think so often our finite minds are just not able to grasp the thought that our Father is more than willing to forgive our sins. The problem lies with us. We are at times so unwilling to forgive ourselves of sin. It is our inability to forgive ourselves that may keep us from a closer walk with God.

I think one of the things that have helped me get past this is to think about the life of the Apostle Paul. Here was a man who was a leader in Old Testament law and a man who believed he was serving God by persecuting the young Christian church. Not only just persecuting them but allowing them to be killed. After all of this God still came to Paul and told him that God desired to use him. Paul was able to trust the Lord enough to know that he had been forgiven his sins. Paul confessed them, repented of them, and ceased dwelling on them. Instead Paul dwelt on how to serve God and the church better. In this God raised Paul up into a mighty man of God who nurtured and strengthened the young church.

If God is willing to do that with a man who murdered his young believers, who are we to limit what God can do with us? We confess, we repent, and we are forgiven. Our goal is to lead life in the image of Christ's life, to become more like him. A goal that may never be completely achieved but God's glory is in how well we run the race.